#NAVSHAKTI: MAHAGAURI

On the eighth day of Navratri, Maa Mahagauri is celebrated and prayed. Mahagauri- ‘Maha’ denotes extremely and ‘Gauri’ means fair.

When Maa Parvati was performing Tapasya, to impress Shiva. She gave up all the comfort- she refused to eat or drink anything, she fought through cold, rains and the storms. Due to this her skin was embedded with dust, soil and leaves. She lost all her radiance and became pale and weak. Thousand of years of her Tapasya passed, but she did not quit. When Lord Shiva took notice of her Tapasya, he was finally impressed and agreed to marry Maa Parvati. Seeing her weak and covered in dust, Lord Shiva let the flowing waters of Ganga cleanse her. The sacred water washed away all the dust and dirt and Maa Parvati reclaimed her lost blaze. And that’s when she came to be known as Mahagauri.

Maa Mahagauri is extremely radiant. She wears white clothes, carries Trishula in one hand and a Damru in the second, a lotus in the third, she rides a white bull and blesses her devotees with the fourth hand. Jasmine flower and coconut are the Bhog offered. Maa Mahagauri symbolizes inner beauty, purity and calmness. She is kind and caring and is known to bring relief from any kind of pain and suffering.